Nepalese cops apply vermillion powder and perform rituals on a dog during Tihar festival celebrations at a police kennel in Katmandu. Dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the festival.

comes in handy during the Diwali festival of light in
Leicester, England. Thousands honored Lakshmi, the multi-armed goddess of wealth.

An extra set of arms

comes in handy during the Diwali festival of light in Leicester, England. Thousands honored Lakshmi, the multi-armed goddess of wealth.

Photo: Christopher Furlong, Getty Images

An extra set of arms comes in handy during the Diwali festival of... Photo-3736425.52443 - SFGate

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Swimming with the sharks:

Four-time apnea world record holder Pierre Frolla dives near a zebra shark in the Aquarium of Paris. Frolla swam with 25 sharks, including 16 fearsome blacktips, to bring attention to the plight of sharks. Some 30 million to 70 million are captured and killed each year, many for their fins.

Swimming with the sharks: Four-time apnea world record holder... Photo-3730446.52443 - SFGate

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The daughter of the best exotic marigold vendor

in Allahabad, India, plays among the blooms, squashing Dad's livelihood.

The daughter of the best exotic marigold vendor

in Allahabad, India, plays among the blooms, squashing Dad's livelihood.

Photo: Rajesh Kumar Singh, Associated Press

The daughter of the best exotic marigold vendor in Allahabad,... Photo-3731355.52443 - SFGate

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.52443 - SFGate

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Not looking at what he's shooting at:

A Syrian rebel of the Halab al-Shabah battalion fires around a wall at regime forces during clashes in the Al-Amariya district of Aleppo. Fierce battles and army shelling in and near Damascus killed at least 41 people, mostly civilians.

Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara (right) and his ally, Takeo Hiranuma, launch their new nationalist political party - The Sunrise Party - in Tokyo. The outspoken Ishihara, 80, who played a key role in reviving a territorial dispute with China, is sharing party leadership with veteran lawmaker Hiranuma, 73, in an effort to fix the nation's fiscal and political problems.

But enough politics, let's do the Charleston! Former Tokyo... Photo-3736439.52443 - SFGate

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Ride and Sikh:

In Amritsar, India, a Sikh religious warrior of the Nihang Army stands tall on the saddles during a stunt for Fateh Divas. The Sikh celebration marks the release of the sixth Guru Hargobind from Gwalior fort, an event known as Bandi Chhorh Divas, which coincides with Hindu festival of Diwali.

After living for years in a roadside ditch in Buhler, Kan., a stray named D.D. (for Ditch Dog) has found a new home with Rachelle Cavanaugh. Rachelle, who had to carry D.D. after she wandered into a busy street while on leash, says D.D. still has a lot to learn about heeling and other commands.

Sikh devotees offer prayers as they wade in the holy sarover (water tank) at the Golden Temple in Amritsar during the Diwali holiday. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas or Diwali to mark the return of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who in 1619 freed 52 political prisoners from the Gwalior fort of Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

Rusty checks himself out at Jubilee Wednesday, a fundraiser for Barrio Dogs in Houston. Barrio volunteers and graveyard workers rescued the pooch after he became trapped in an underground drain at a local cemetery.